Start the tour early at the end-of-residency and opening party for artist/filmmaker Brent Green’s new installation Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then at ASU Art Museum 4 – 6pm.

Gravity Was Everywhere Back Then is inspired by the true story of an idiosyncratic house in Louisville, owned by hardware store clerk Leonard Wood. When his wife Mary was diagnosed with cancer, Leonard started building the house room by room, with the tragic hope that his labor would save his wife. Even after Mary’s death, Wood continued to build the house. Over the next 20 years, he strove to bring something as tangible and powerful as his love for Mary into the world.

The installation features Green’s version of Wood’s house, transplanted and reconstructed from the artist’s studio in rural Pennsylvania. The house, along with sculptural elements and structures, is installed in one of the ASU Art Museum’s galleries with video and sound pieces shown inside and around the house to create an immersive environment

For more information on Brent Green’s work go to www.nervousfilms.com or visit asuartmuseum.asu.edu.

Converging Trajectories:Crossing Borders,Building Bridges at Modified Arts:

…is an invitational group exhibition of works by 42 artists, mostly from Brazil and Arizona with others from Buenos Aires, Charlotte, Chicago, Mexico City, New York, and San Francisco…Of the 42 artists in the exhibition, 21 are currently based in Brazil making this the largest exhibit of contemporary art from Brazil ever shown in Phoenix and the Southwestern United States.

The exhibition is organized by local arts maven and dealer Ted G.Decker. Read the curator’s story at Hearsight.com.

Modified Arts is at 407 East Roosevelt, PHX. Visit modified.org for more info.

Artist talk at 7pm by Rachel Woodburn at Tilt Gallery, PHX’s only fine art photography salon, located at 919 W. Fillmore just off Grand Ave:

In the past year her current body of work has taken form through found or discarded objects. Recently, in Art in America Edward Gomez wrote, “Used objects contain historical energy. You can’t always see that energy but you can feel it.” Rachel is trying to find where the history of the objects and her expression intermingle.

Julian Cox, photography curator at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, said her work combines “beauty and psychological content in delicate balance.”

More info at tiltgallery.com.

Wrap up the evening at The Firehouse Gallery with First Friday Night Live, a stage show featuring:

…fifteen of Phoenix’s best performers, ranging from musicians to drag queen karaoke stars, were selected. These performers will be pumping life into sketches created by a team of bloggers, slam poets, comedians and performance artists.

For the next seven months, FFNL will be showcasing cage free Phoenix talent every first Friday of the month at the The Firehouse Gallery. Unlike loose-running open-mic events, this locally-produced performance-art shindig will be a choreographed event, complete with scripts, cues, and all of that good stuff.

Through humor, FFNL will soften some of the worst blows that life delivers. Intentionally, FFNL begins where First Friday Artwalk leaves off, offering a late night experience that will rival other metropolitan cities.

The Firehouse Gallery is at 1015 N. 1st Street, just north of Roo Row in downtown PHX. Tickets are $7 at the gate or call 1-402-615-2854. For more info go to www.strivedreams.com.

A-1 Country runs tonight at The Icehouse:

“A-1 Country” is a photography exhibition and beer tasting event hosted by Phoenix-based artist William LeGoullon and The Nimbus Brewing Company of Tucson . This collaborative event will focus on the re-release of the historic Arizona beer, A-1. Originally presented by the Arizona Brewing Company in 1943, A-1 continued being produced by various brewing companies till 1985 when the beer’s symbolic narrative soon became forgotten. Through the works of William LeGoullon, “A-1 Country” observes the history and story of the iconic beer that was once the symbol of Arizona ’s beer-drinking culture. During the event, Nimbus Brewing Company, the largest brewery in Arizona, will be hosting a free beer tasting of the newly-released and long-awaited classic brew.

The show is tonight from 7 – 11pm.

The Icehouse is at 429 W Jackson St.in downtown Phoenix. For info go to www.theicehouseaz.com or call 602.257.8929.

This just in—Steve Weiss, the director of No Festival Required Independent Cinema, has been appointed programmer to Film Bar, the new independent movie theater/bar coming soon to downtown Phoenix:

Film Bar will screen new, classic and cult independent films by local, national and international filmmakers in a microcinema setting (approximately 60-80 seats), while offering beer and wine with a warm and comfortable atmosphere. Scheduled to open to the public in late November, Film Bar will be the first 1st run cinema in downtown Phoenix since the closing of the Palms Theater in 1981. See cinematreasures.org

No Festival Required Independent Cinema, has, since 2002, programmed indie screenings in traditional art venues such as the Phoenix Art Museum, Mesa Arts Center, Detroit Film Center and local art-spaces Modified Arts, Paper Heart, Chyro Arts, Space 55 and most recently, the Metro Arts Theater.

Weiss plans to continue his programming of rare, independent films in other venues throughout the Valley.

For more info see nofestivalrequired.wordpress.com.

The EVT actually gets to talk to Jan Brewer on the continuing fallout from the Wednesday debate breakdown.

Besides completely drawing a blank for some ten long seconds, Brewer ran off after it, refusing to take reporters' questions.

From the story:

Brewer blamed part of her post-debate activities on her gaffe in her opening statement. The governor also said she presumed reporters would want to talk to her about some of the issues raised during the hour-long televised debate.

“All you guys were doing and talking were beheadings, beheadings, beheadings,” the governor said.

Brewer continues with the lies, lies, lies:

Anyway, Brewer insisted she has been misquoted.

“I never said ‘Arizona,‘” Brewer said, regarding beheadings in the desert. “And it’s unfortunate that it was construed as ‘Arizona.’ And I’m sorry if people thought that I said it was in Arizona.”

The record, however, shows otherwise.

“Our law enforcement agencies have found bodies in the desert, either buried or just lying out there, that have been beheaded,” Brewer said in a June appearance on Sunday Square Off on KPNX-TV 12 in Phoenix. And the governor said “there are people all over Arizona living in fear.”

The negative press keeps on piling up around our accidental governor. Last night she proved that the her ‘bodies in the desert’ aren’t the only one without a head:

Jan Brewer has been in politics for 28 years, but it only took 13 seconds to reshape her national image.

That’s how long the governor needed to gather her thoughts Wednesday at a gubernatorial debate as her train of thought derailed midway through her opening statement and she struggled to get back on track.

Brewer didn’t help her case after the debate when, faced by questions from reporters about a previous statement that there have been beheadings in the Arizona desert, she refused to answer them and escaped into a service elevator.

As for that opening statement, Brewer said in an interview Thursday that her mind went blank. “If someone had asked me my name, I wouldn’t have been able to tell them,” she said.

Brewer said the only thing she could do after the fact was “laugh about it, forget it and move on.”

[…]

A KTAR-FM (92.3) host called it a “major-league meltdown,” and the online Huffington Post said Brewer’s statement had more gaps than Arizona’s border with Mexico.

Read more at azcentral.com.

…wait ‘til you see the rehearsal footage…

Street food has been woefully lacking in Phoenix, partially as a result of strict city by-laws. Sure there is the odd taco truck or hot dog stand sprinkled throughout town, but Phoenix has lagged behind the curbside culinary selection found in other cities.

Fortunately, things look to be changing. David Tyda from EaterAZ recently did a segment with KTVK Channel 3 on Phoenix’s food truck renaissance, featuring 3 local favorites:

Here is a bit more information that EaterAZ provided on the featured trucks:

Short Leash Dogs:

Not so much a food truck as a food trailer, but no less lovable. Locally made Schreiner’s hot dogs are served in a pita-like bun allowing them to top dogs with wacky combinations like mango chutney, diced jalapenos, red onions, cilantro, and mayo. Plus, the husband and wife that run Short Leash are everything you want a food truck couple to be–just happy to not be inside a cubicle workin’ for The Man.

Twitter: @shortleashdogs

Torched Goodness:

After 17 years in the hectic restaurant industry, it was time for Eric Ireland to focus on one thing and do it well. So, really, why the hell wouldn’t that thing be crème brûlée!? Served in single-size foil cups, these little, $4 desserts are becoming all the rage wherever Torched Goodness throws down the parking brake.

Twitter: @torchedgoodness

Sweet Republic:

If you haven’t heard of Sweet Republic by now, you’re either living under a rock or in some weird cone of silence – because the media coverage on these guys has been frenzied to say the least. And it’s all well-deserved. Republic was one the Valley’s first truly creative artisan ice cream makers, and their shop at 92nd St. and Shea quickly became a big draw.

But their best move? Deck out an old ice cream truck with, well, ice cream. They brought scoops of Point Reyes bleu cheese ice cream, a signature mint lime, and others that made for a perfect post-segment refresher.

Twitter: @sweetrepublic

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Sheriff Joe never met a TV camera he doesn’t like. Today was no different. He used the announcement of yet another federal lawsuit against his office to grandstand along side his anti-immigrant pal state senator Russell Pearce:

[KTAR] Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the architect of Arizona’s controversial immigration law say the Justice Department’s suit against the sheriff is harassment.

Arpaio and State Sen. Russell Pearce held a news conference outside the sheriff’s downtown Phoenix office Thursday, hours after the federal agency announced it was suing Arpaio for failing to turn over documents demanded in a civil rights investigation.

The Justice Department is investigating allegations that Arpaio and his office have discriminated against Hispanics in what the sheriff calls crime suppression sweeps. Critics say the sweeps are aimed at illegal immigrants and amount to racial profiling.

Arpaio said he has fully cooperated with the feds, and, “I’m very confident that my deputies do not racial profile.”

A small group of people opposed to Arpaio’s policies and SB1070, the immigration law, also gathered outside the sheriff’s office.

One, Diane Ovalle, said the opposition is “slowly, slowly beginning to show some form of progress. But, again, it’s long overdue.”

She said as long as Arpaio is sheriff, he will use racial tactics.

[…]

According to the Justice Department, Arpaio has balked at handing over the requested documents for 15 months. DOJ said the sheriff’s actions are “unprecedented.”

Read the whole article here, including the sheriff’s ‘woe is me’ response.

KTAR Photo by Kevin Tripp

Tomorrow is First Friday once again, and while the Phoestival street fair remains on hiatus, there is still a lot going on around downtown Phoenix:

After Hours Gallery

You all remember the Haiti Earthquake disaster and the resulting devastation. Photographer Rodney Rascona was there on the scene and he’s brought back some amazing images — both heart breaking and inspirational.

The show is called THE PINK DOOR PHOTOGRAPHS. You’ll be moved by these personal and uplifting images that capture the incredible spirit of the Haiti people.

These are contrasted in the same show with EVELYN’S STORY — a visual portrait of a surviving mother and her children, on the streets, in one 24-hour period.

PLUS, this amazing series of photos was selected a winner of the 2010 International Photographer Awards in the Deeper Perspectives category. Only 3 out of 15,000 submissions earned this recognition — and when you see the show, you’ll see why.

Kitchen Sink Studios

The crew from Kitchen Sink Studios will be featuring the work of local artist Kathy Taylor in their gallery space. And to help you keep cool, they’ll be selling old time sodas from the Soda Pop Shop for a small donation to our gallery. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. KSS is located just a block south of Roosevelt on Third Street.

Coe House

The cool cats at Coe House be hanging out all night with tunes by DJ MoLo and Bryan Mok & Chanelle Richardson (aka The Epileptic Photographers). Artwork by Jon Ashcroft and photos by Jason Garcia will be hanging on the walls. They’ll have a few things to sip, but feel free to bring your own to throw in the fridge or cooler. Stop by Cibo or Local Breeze just up the block for some good grub before heading over!

Curious how to get to Coe House (365 N 4th Ave)? If you’re light railing, it’s 4 blocks west of the Van Buren station. Driving? Parking is available along 4th Avenue (some spots are metered until 8 pm).

26 Blocks at A.E. England

For the month of September the traveling exhibition 26 Blocks will be exhibited at the Artlink A. E. England Gallery. 26 Blocks is an art project that celebrates downtown Phoenix.

26 of metropolitan Phoenix’s most talented writers were paired with 26 of the City’s most celebrated photographers. Each pair collaborated to create their interpretation of one of 26 randomly selected city blocks in the downtown Phoenix area.

At a time when Arizona and Phoenix are in the national spotlight and our City is often portrayed as a hostile community facing boycotts from other cities and states, 26 Blocks promotes Phoenix in a highly positive way that encourages everyone to look at our incredible home from very different perspectives.

SuTRA Midtown Yoga – District Gallery

“Sometimes We Cock Our Heads to The Side So They Think We Have Secrets to Tell” is a series inspired by words never said. It focuses on the dreams, desires, and feelings that we let go of in order to maintain a well-crafted persona and the transparency of secrets for those who take the time to look.

Morgan McNally is a mixed media artist based out of Phoenix, Arizona. A former design student currently pursuing a BA in Museum Studies with a minor in painting, she has held residence at holgas and The Firehouse artist cooperatives, and is currently living and working out of her Garfield District studio.

Enjoy a LIVE ACOUSTIC SET by Grace Bolyard.

SuTRA Midtown Yoga – District Gallery is located at 2317 N. 7th Street

The Red Dress Tour (Caminando de Rojo)

Local performance artists Kara Roschi and Ernesto Moncada present The Red Dress Tours (Caminando de Rojo): a series of free artist-led tours taking place in downtown Phoenix arts districts over three consecutive First Fridays beginning in September.

September’s tour will focus on the Roosevelt District, staring from the The Firehouse Gallery at 1015 N 1st St.

These bilingual tours aim to promote the idea of a walkable and connected downtown while introducing participants to their local arts community. And remember, wear something red!

More details here.

This is a radio spot, with images added for You Tube viewing, run by the Hulburd campaign on local Christian stations.

Politico:

“I’ve read that congressional candidate Ben Quayle helped create one of the most offensive websites I’ve ever seen,” a woman says in the ad, currently running on three Christian radio stations and a Phoenix conservative talk radio station. “The site promotes drugs and prostitution, is filled with meanness and foul language, humiliates women and even mocks people with Down syndrome.”

For those incurably PC—you may want to avoid the entire text the below is excerpted from—it starts off with a discussion of theological acrimony between two embattled factions of the Church of England. Readers of a more liberal (not necessarily Liberal) bent may enjoy the entire piece written by Alan Jacobs, a professor of English at Wheaton College. He writes the Text Patterns blog at The New Atlantis, a journal of technology and society.

…A now-famous cartoon on the xkcd “webcomics” site shows a stick figure typing away at his computer keyboard as a voice from outside the frame says, “Are you coming to bed?” The figure replies: “I can’t. This is important… . Someone is wrong on the Internet.” I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues.

[…]

In the 18th century, when modern political journalism was just beginning, Samuel Johnson wrote: “How small of all that human hearts endure / That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.” Johnson wrote as someone who, as a young man, had observed and commented extensively on debates in Parliament. But few of us would agree with him today. We expect our laws and kings — that is, our politicians and the state — to try to cure or avert a great many of the hardships that “human hearts endure.”

And so, as we have come to focus our attention ever more on politics and the arts of public justice, we have increasingly defined our private, familial, and communal lives in similar terms. The pursuit of justice has come to define acts and experiences that once were governed largely by other virtues. It is this particular transformation that Wendell Berry was lamenting when he wrote, “Marriage, in what is evidently its most popular version, is now on the one hand an intimate ‘relationship’ involving (ideally) two successful careerists in the same bed, and on the other hand a sort of private political system in which rights and interests must be constantly asserted and defended. Marriage, in other words, has now taken the form of divorce: a prolonged and impassioned negotiation as to how things shall be divided.” That is, it has become a matter of justice rather than of love, an assertion of rights rather than a self-giving.

This same logic governs our responses to one another on the Internet. We clothe ourselves in the manifest justice of our favorite causes, and so clothed we cannot help being righteous (“Someone is wrong on the Internet”). In our online debates, we not only fail to cultivate charity and humility, we come to think of them as vices: forms of weakness that compromise our advocacy. And so we go forth to war with one another.

This comes close to what Thomas Hobbes, writing four centuries ago, famously called the “war of every man against every man.” As he pointed out, such a war may begin in the name of justice, but justice cannot long survive its depredations. In such an environment, “this also is consequent; that nothing can be unjust. The notions of right and wrong, justice and injustice, have there no place… . Force and fraud are in war the two cardinal virtues.”

[…]

The entire article is here.

HighGround, Jan Brewer’s campaign consulting firm posted a butthurt missive on their blog.

Are the number crunchers of parent company Meredith Corp. back in Des Moines putting the screws on journalist integrity in exchange for corporate profit? Or is management asleep at the switch while its on-air talent is using them to build their video resumes for greener pastures?

Front and center in this mess is VP/General Manager Ed Munson and his New Mexico import News Director, Michelle Donaldson. As many longtime Channel 5 insiders will tell you, management is letting the inmates run the Channel 5 asylum.

Chief exhibit is the maniacal Morgan Loew, 5i Team Reporter. It seems Morgan is itching to get out of his native Arizona and head to the network big-time. Why hang around dusty ‘ole Phoenix when the glamour and fame the glitzy 24-hour news grind awaits?

But in order to do that, you need to gain national attention—stints with national media shows—venues like MSNBC’s ‘Rachel Maddow Show.”

Waaaaah! This is classic projection. Jan Brewer’s private prison consultant buddies get caught with their pants down and try to accuse the messenger of doing the same thing they’re doing.

I got a lot of enjoyment out of Channel 5’s coverage of the debate tonight. They showed Jan in all her awkward dumbstruck glory during the debate and then scurrying away from reporters' tough questions afterward. They were just “Telling It Like It Is” on KPHO.

On the same night as her debate disgrace, Morgan Loew, an investigative reporter for KPHO-TV in Phoenix, talks with Rachel Maddow about Arizona governor Jan Brewer’s retaliation against his station for his investigation of her ties with private prison lobbyists.

This is especially interesting coverage given that Maddow is on NBC—whose affiliate, 12 News is a direct competitor of CBS’s KPHO-TV. The segment in question starts at 2:55, but the entire clip is essential viewing:

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Missed the debate tonight? Don’t worry, PHXated has you covered. Here is the video of the full hour long debate between the four gubernatiorial candidates, courtesy of KAET-TV:

Stay tuned to PHXated for more in depth reviews and insights on tonights debate (We just need a bit of time to process everything!)